Can you give a quick assessment of the state of the Dallas Independent School District?

Dallas ISD has great children and a hardworking staff, which is evident in the steadily increasing graduation rate. We now have to build the leadership capacity in the central office, put the systems in place and collaborate with community partners to significantly and purposefully increase the number of college- and career-ready students.

You’ve been working part time in the district. Are there pressing matters that you think need to be addressed now that you are full-time?

We need to complete the reorganization of the central office staff and finish hiring top-level talent who will help transform the district through the Destination 2020 plan.

What bright spots have you seen so far in Dallas ISD?

I visited a number of schools before the end of the school year. It is always a bright spot in my day to see children learning and teachers teaching well. Another bright spot has been the overwhelming community support. People are truly rooting for the success of Dallas ISD. The business community, higher education groups and various multicultural nonprofit groups have communicated their commitment to the success of the new direction of the district.

What do you think of the city of Dallas so far?

My family and I are going to like it here. We’re going to enjoy being part of a dynamic city that is going to work hand in hand with DISD to improve the education system.

What do you like to do for entertainment?

I spend every free moment that I have with my family. Most Friday nights have been “pizza and movie” nights.

The Dallas ISD board has looked at ways to benefit from having successful relationships with good charter schools in the area. How do you feel about in-district charter schools?

Our focus right now is on ensuring all of our schools are successful. We will continue to collaborate with highly successful charter schools in the area.

Dallas ISD closed nine schools after the school year ended in May. (Another school will close next year, and a school was temporarily closed and is being rebuilt.) What would you like to see happen to the school buildings?

Closing a school is always a tough decision because of the impact on the staff and community. I would like to see the buildings used in some way to support the children of the community. We are still studying how the school buildings that were closed might be used.

We do not have plans at the moment to close any additional schools. While closing a school is a tough decision, central administration has to make sound decisions based on economics and available resources.

Some people have been critical of the salaries for four members of your Cabinet that they deem too high. What would you say to them?

During these times of budget reductions, we have to be sensitive to concerns around any expenditure. So far, as a result of the reorganization at central office and related personnel decisions, the district has saved $1,200,000. We will continue to try to save money as we begin to implement the Destination 2020 plan.

Dallas ISD and other Texas school districts expect to cut their budgets more incoming years. What can DISD do to make sure the cuts don’t hurt its quality of education?

We are reorganizing the entire system to focus on the quality of instruction and monitor the effectiveness of our schools. We will prioritize resource use in order to ensure classroom instruction is not negatively impacted. We also understand that teachers and support staff have not had a salary increase in quite some time. Absent huge reductions in our revenues, we are already planning to present a 2013-14 budget to the board that includes a salary increase for employees.